Racing Metro have confirmed a major transfer coup with the signing of Pumas fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez.

The 27-year-old will join the Paris club after his dreams of playing in this season's Super 14 with the Sharks were ended by a persistent back injury that required surgery. His move to Racing has long been predicted and there will be an interesting match-up next season as he goes head-to-head with former employers Stade Francais.

The club have also confirmed a number of other big-name signings, including that of Stade's Italian wing Mirco Bergamasco and Perpignan scrum-half Nicolas Durand. Bayonne winger Benjamin Fall will also make the switch at the end of the season, having forced his way into the French squad this term.

Other signings include Munster's Julien Brugnaut, Montauban trio Benjamin Sa, Karim Ghezal and Antoine Battut, Brive's Scott Zimmerman and Bourgoin's Albert VuliVuli. Former All Black fly-half Andrew Mehrtens has left the club, along with Wasps-bound scrum-half Nic Berry and Brent Ward, who will head to New Zealand and the Blues.